Texas issues disaster declaration for 101 counties

Gov. Greg Abbott’s June 15 disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties did two things at once: it responded to an immediate weather threat and it showed how much of Texas is still operating in recovery mode after repeated flood and storm disasters. The order covered a broad band of the state after severe storms beginning June 14 brought heavy rain, flash-flood risk, hazardous wind gusts, hail and tornado threats, according to the governor’s proclamation. Abbott said the declaration was meant to give local officials access to state support as conditions continued to evolve. The move lands alongside two other pieces of the state’s flood-response picture. Texas lawmakers have advanced legislation tied to flood-prone areas and warning systems after the deadly July 2025 Hill Country floods, and Houston officials this week approved a $45 million home-repair program for residents still dealing with damage from Hurricane Beryl and the 2024 derecho. Together, those actions show Texas trying to manage both live risk and older damage claims at the same time. (gov.texas.gov) ### Which counties were covered by Abbott’s order? Abbott’s June 15 proclamation named 101 counties, including Harris, Travis, Bexar, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Kerr, Montgomery, Nueces, Webb and Williamson. The governor’s office said more counties could be added if conditions warranted. The governor said the storm event began June 14 and included “heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hazardous wind gusts, large hail, and tornado threats.” Under Texas Government Code Section 418.014, the declaration allows the state to use emergency authorities and mobilize resources for the listed counties. (legiscan.com) ### Why is flood planning back at the Capitol? (gov.texas.gov) The July 2025 Hill Country floods remain a reference point for Texas officials discussing preparedness. Houston Public Media reported on July 8 that Kerr County residents said they were more prepared one year later, while the legislature had passed a Senate bill requiring emergency plans for flood-prone counties statewide. (gov.texas.gov) Separate legislative records show Texas lawmakers also moved bills focused on outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone or flash-flood-prone areas after the 2025 floods. Bill analyses and sponsor statements described the Kerr County disaster as evidence that rural river areas and places with weak cell coverage need more reliable warning systems. ### What is Houston doing for residents with older storm damage? (houstonpublicmedia.org) Houston city officials approved a $45 million home-repair program on July 8 for damage caused by Hurricane Beryl and the May 2024 derecho, according to Houston Public Media. The outlet reported that the program is intended to help homeowners but would not fully erase the housing damage left by the two storms. (legiscan.com) The city’s disaster-recovery site says Houston expects $314.6 million in federal Housing and Urban Development funding tied to those 2024 disasters. The recovery portal says program guidelines are still being developed for the single-family home repair effort and related resilience work. ### Why does the 101-county declaration matter beyond one storm system? Texas has kept multiple disaster tracks open at once. (houstonpublicmedia.org) Abbott’s office separately renewed a flooding disaster proclamation in June 2026 tied to the July 2025 Hill Country event, while the June 15 severe-storm declaration opened another statewide response lane for a new round of weather threats. (houstontx.gov) The Texas General Land Office is also seeking public input on an updated statewide disaster-mitigation plan covering floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, according to local reporting cited in the briefing materials. That process runs in parallel with local repair programs and legislative changes. ### What happens next? Houston’s next steps are administrative and public. The city’s recovery website says draft program guidelines and additional public updates for the 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl recovery effort are still to come, with community meetings and procurement notices posted through the disaster-recovery portal. (gov.texas.gov) At the state level, Abbott’s June 15 declaration said additional counties could be added as conditions warrant, and Texas agencies continue to administer both the active severe-storm response and longer-term flood-mitigation planning. (houstontx.gov) (gov.texas.gov)